NTL GIRLS WRESTLING: NEB'S KOLESAR TAKES FOURTH AT THE PIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS (March 7, 2026)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
HERSHEY — For the third year in a row NEB’s Anaiah Kolesar took fourth place at the PIAA Girls Wrestling Championships on Saturday.

Kolesar opened the final consolation round with a 9-6 win over Delone Catholic’s Faith Gladfelter, but then lost by fall to Mariana Bracetti’s Julie Ortiz in 59 seconds in the bronze medal match.

“I can’t speak for Anaiah, and what her feeling are at the moment, but I can’t say enough of how proud I am of her,” said NEB coach Curt Cole. “A fourth place finish might not have been what she came for, but it is still a great finish to be on the podium. Counting the first year, she is a 4-time medalist, a 100-win wrestler, and has traveled all over to become what she is today. She has always represented our small community to the fullest, and I’m sure once she gets to the collegiate level she will go on to do big things, and rep her respected college in the same way. She has been a positive role model to all young girls in our NTL, and she has been one of the hardest workers I have coached over the years. It’s truly an honor to have coached her.”

In the fourth round consolation match Kolesar carded Gladfelter up right off the whistle for a takedown but couldn’t quite get her on her back.

In the second Gladfelter got a reversal to cut it to 3-2, but Kolesar reversed her back, then rode her out to go up 5-2.

In the third Kolesar got another takedown off the whistle for an 8-2 lead. Gladfelter got out, then scored on a takedown when she got behind Kolesar off a shot for an 8-6 score.

Gladfelter let her up to go for the tying takedown, but Kolesar struck first, getting in on a single leg and holding it through the end.

In the loss to Ortiz Kolesar reached for a single leg when Ortiz got the underhook in and threw Kolesar to her back. Kolesar tried to fight off but Ortiz got the slap on the mat with one second left in the first period.

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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING



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